Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Story by Tommy Mann

LITTLE CYPRESS — Little Cypress-Mauriceville celebrated homecoming with the team’s first victory of the season, as the Bears swatted the Iowa Yellowjackets from Louisiana, 45-26, on Friday night.

Little Cypress-Mauriceville moves to 1-2 on the season as they enter the bye week next Friday. The Iowa Yellowjackets falls to 1-1.

After only scoring 21 total points in its first two games this season, the Bears offense got back on track this week and scored 21 points in the first quarter.

The scoring started with LC-M’s first possession as the Bears marched the ball 79 yards in 11 plays. Facing second down and one at the Yellowjackets 3-yard line, running back Jonah Fuller rambled in for the early 7-0 lead following the extra point by Isaiah Watzlavik.

On Iowa’s second play from scrimmage, quarterback Reed Dupre was picked off by Bears defender Kaden Boatman, who returned the ball 45 yards for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead for LC-M with 7:51 to play in the first quarter.

Iowa was forced to punt on its next possession, and LC-M wasted little time in extending the lead. The Bears only needed 1:41 to move the ball 76 yards to the end zone in five plays. Evan Worster scored on a four yard quarterback sneak up the middle and put LC-M ahead, 21-0, late in the first quarter.

The Bears stingy defense forced another Yellowjackets punt and LC-M took over at its own 32-yard line. Quarterback Braylon Lewis methodically guided the Bears downfield with his arm and with the help of running back J’lynn Morris, who had a 35-yard run on the drive to move the ball to the Iowa 13-yard line. A few plays later Fuller added a 1-yard plunge to put LC-M up 28-0.

Watzlavik added a 37-yard field goal on the Bears next possession to make the score 31-0 in favor of LC-M with 1:53 left in the half.

The Yellowjackets finally showed some life on its next possession and its big play capabilities as Iowa scored in just two plays while covering 59 yards. Running back Jeremiah Bushnell rumbled 47 yards to the Bears 12-yard line, then Dupre connected with running back Jonathan Walker on a 12-yard catch and run for the touchdown. The extra point was blocked as LC-M lead 31-6 going into halftime.

The Yellowjackets made it interesting in the third quarter as Dupre threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Bushnell midway through the third quarter to cut the LC-M lead to 31-12. Then defender Andrew Duhon picked off a Lewis pass and sprinted up the left Iowa sideline for an 85-yard interception return. The two point conversion was successful and the Yellowjackets were back in the game, now trailing 31-20.

Some teams would have tightened up at this point, but LC-M decided to put the game away instead, as the Bears scored touchdowns on their next two possessions to put the game away with Worster scoring two more 1-yard touchdowns on quarterback sneaks and giving LC-M a 45-20 lead with 6:13 left in the fourth quarter.

Iowa would add one more touchdown as Dupre threw a 7-yard pass to Boatman with 1:58 remaining in the game.

LC-M gained 481 yards of total offense against the Yellowjackets. Quarterback Braylon Lewis passed for 114 yards, while completing 7 of 13 attempts on the night with one interception. He also had 101 yards rushing on seven carries, including a 64-yard run to set up a late touchdown.

Running back J’Lynn Morris had a big night on the ground as he gained 187 yards on 17 totes, which included a 57-yard run in the second quarter. Jonah Fuller added 46 yards rushing on the night and a touchdown.

The Bears defense held the high-powered Yellowjackets offense to 314 yards of offense, most of which came in the second-half of the game.

The Bears are on a bye next week ahead of the start of District 10-4A action. LC-M will travel to Ivan Croak Field to face the Vidor Pirates (1-2). Vidor lost the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns 53-27 on Friday night in the Pirates final tune-up ahead of the start of district games.